Cymbopogon refractus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Cymbopogon |
Species: | C. refractus |
Binomial name | |
Cymbopogon refractus (R.Br.) Camus | |
Synonyms | |
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Cymbopogon refractus, commonly known as barbed wire grass, [1] is a species of perennial grass in the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is native to Australia.
Cymbopogon refractus is a tufted perennial bunchgrass, without stolons or rhizomes. The culms, or stems of the grass are to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height and branching at the nodes. The nodes are purplish and hairless. [2]
The leaves of the plant are basal and on the stems. [2] The leaf is hairless and when crushed gives off a lemon-ginger scent [3] like other grasses in the genus Cymbopogon .
The inflorescence of the plant, or the collections of flowers, are arranged on a 10–45 cm (3.9–17.7 in) long stem with clusters of short, nearly hairless branches which bend downwards when mature, giving the inflorescence a barbed-wire appearance. The spikelets are paired, one stalked the other unstalked. [3] Flowering mostly spring to autumn. [1]
Cymbopogon refractus was first described by R. Brown in 1810 as Andropogon refractus, [4] but in 1921 was placed in the genus Cymbopogon by Camus. [5] [4]
Cymbopogon refractus is widespread on poor soils of roadsides, native pastures, woodlands and forests [3] of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria. [1] It is very drought tolerant but readily frosted. [3]
Cymbopogon, also known as lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, oily heads, Cochin grass, Malabar grass, citronella grass or fever grass, is a genus of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family. Some species are commonly cultivated as culinary and medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons . The name cymbopogon derives from the Greek words kymbe and pogon "which mean [that] in most species, the hairy spikelets project from boat-shaped spathes." Lemongrass and its oil are believed to possess therapeutic properties.
Arthropodium milleflorum, the pale vanilla lily, is a species of herbaceous perennial plants native to Australia. It occurs in various habitats including alpine areas and grows to between 0.3 and 1.3 metres high and 0.3 metres wide. The fleshy tubers were eaten by Aboriginal Australians. The plant has a strong vanilla fragrance, especially noticeable on warm days.
Angophora hispida grows as a mallee, or as a tree to about 7 m (25 ft) in height. A. hispida's small size, especially when compared to its Angophora and Eucalyptus relatives, leads to it being known by the common name dwarf apple. It is native to a relatively small patch of central New South Wales – from just south of Sydney up to the Gosford area. The plant's leaves are sessile (stalk-less) and hug the stem with heart-shaped bases. Its previous name – A. cordifolia – referred to these cordate leaves. Another distinctive feature are the red bristly hairs that cover the branchlets, flower bases and new growth. This leads to the specific epithet hispida.
Laxmannia is a genus of tufted perennial herbs in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lomandroideae, that are endemic to Australia.
Ampera xiphloclada, commonly known as ‘broom spurge’, is a grass-like erect shrub in the Euphorbiaceae family.
Alloxylon pinnatum, known as Dorrigo waratah, is a tree of the family Proteaceae found in warm-temperate rainforest of south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales in eastern Australia. It has shiny green leaves that are either pinnate (lobed) and up to 30 cm (12 in) long, or lanceolate (spear-shaped) and up to 15 cm (5.9 in) long. The prominent pinkish-red flower heads, known as inflorescences, appear in spring and summer; these are made up of 50 to 140 individual flowers arranged in corymb or raceme. These are followed by rectangular woody seed pods, which bear two rows of winged seeds.
Microlaena stipoides, synonym Ehrharta stipoides, is a species of grass. It occurs naturally in all states of Australia as well as in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines. It has also been introduced into Hawaii and Reunion Island and has been reported as invasive in both. Common names used include weeping grass, weeping rice grass and weeping meadow grass.
Glischrocaryon behrii, or golden pennants, is a perennial herb, native to southeastern Australia. The 5 to 6 inflorescences that appear in spring each comprise 7 to 60 yellow flowers.
Xanthorrhoea minor is a species of grasstree of the genus Xanthorrhoea native to south-eastern Australia. It was one of the many species authored by the Scottish botanist Robert Brown.
Drymophila cyanocarpa commonly known as turquoise berry or native Solomon's seal, is a monocot species of flowering plant in the family Alstroemeriaceae. The genus Drymophila has 2 species, D. cyanocarpa and D. moorei, both of which are native to Australia. D. moorei has orange-yellow berries and is found in northern NSW and Queensland. D. cyanocarpa is found in Tasmania, Victoria, and New South Wales (NSW).
Cassytha glabella, commonly known as the slender devil's twine, is a common twining plant of the Laurel family, found in many of the moister parts of Australia. A hemi-parasitic climber. The specific epithet glabella is from Latin, referring to the lack of hairs. The fruit are sweet and mucousy to taste. The Devil's Twine and Cassytha melantha are similar, but with thicker hairier stems.
Lomatia silaifolia, commonly known as crinkle bush or parsley fern, is a plant of the family, Proteaceae native to eastern Australia. Naturally found in open forest, it grows as a small shrub 1–2 m high with highly pinnate leaves reminiscent of parsley. The white inflorescences appear in summer.
Podolepis robusta, commonly known as alpine podolepis, mountain lettuce or cattleman's lettuce, is a perennial herb from the Australian Alps in the family Asteraceae.
Poa labillardierei, also known as common tussock-grass, is a species of tussock grass that is endemic to Australia. It is found in southern and eastern Australia, including Tasmania. There are differing variations, Poa labillardierei var. acris Vickery and Poa labillardierei Steud. var. labillardierei.
Trachymene ornata, or spongefruit, is a slender annual herb in the family Araliaceae. It is native to Australia and found in Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.
Capillipedium spicigerum, commonly known as scented-top grass, is a species of perennial grass in the family Poaceae that is native to Australia.
Acacia ulicifolia, commonly known as prickly Moses or juniper wattle is a shrub of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Phyllodineae, native to Australia.
Aristida ramosa is a species of grass that occurs in New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. However, it is thought to have been introduced into Western Australia. It was first described by Robert Brown in 1810 who find it live at Port Jackson (Sydney). The species epithet, ramosa, is a Latin adjective meaning "branched" which describes the plant as bearing branches.
Austrostipa mollis, also known as the soft speargrass or supple speargrass is a robust, erect tufted perennial speargrass in the Poaceae family. It is native to Australia, and found in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, ACT and Tasmania.